How do you see the 2015 team?

[CBDees 3,165]

I chucked this on a Facebook page recently. Our depth chart post draft and positions based on this.

Two things I'd change, 1. Grimes out now he isn't captain, 2. Kent in (oversight when creating this the first time)

Also Gawn, Spencer and King should be found under 'depth'

Don't forget that Dawes is ineligible for Round 1 (Suspension) and surely you cannot think that M Jones will be the sub ahead of Toumpas, Salem, Brayshaw, Newton etc? Also where is Kent?

[Bedraggled Dee 336]

For mine given zero injuries which is obviously not likely I recon the following looks to be the best 22

F Pedo Dawes Garlett

HF Watts Hogan JKH

C Cross Vince Howe

HB Garland MacDonald Lumumba

B Frost Dunn Jetta

R Jamar Jones Tyson

I Kent Salem Grimes Petracca

The remaining who I would be happy to get a game shows a fiar bit of depth

Toumpas, Trengove, Gawn, Brayshaw, Stretch, Michie, Riley, Spencer, Bail, Jones, Terlich, Fitzpatrick

First time I can say we look to have some size and talent across the ground and some depth particularly in the forwads and midifled. Backs have been good for a while.

The rest are consigned to the magoos if I had my way.

[inanunda 342]

Out of all of this there has to be someone who needs to have a massive 2015? I think it is Fitzy and you can read why here: http://www.thepeptalk.com.au/the-2015-afl-make-it-or-break-it-list-part-c/

I have also written about the other 17 clubs as well. Check it out!

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

For me there are 19 auto-selects, and I've been tossing up who should get the last 3 spots out of JKH, Kent, Bail, Frost (more dependent on KP spots) M.Jones, Reilly, Salem, Toumpas, Terlich, McKenzie, Mitchie, Brayshaw and Petracca. I've just watched the last match of the year and been reminded that Kent kicked 3 and had a big hand in several others, being highly effective with few touches - he's a definite starter for mine.Looks a belter of a pickup for us at no.48 in the draft

[Coup Cooper 610]

So Jordie has played his last game then??

I bloody hope so!

[CBDees 3,165]

Out of all of this there has to be someone who needs to have a massive 2015? I think it is Fitzy and you can read why here: http://www.thepeptalk.com.au/the-2015-afl-make-it-or-break-it-list-part-c/

I have also written about the other 17 clubs as well. Check it out!

I hope that you are right Pepperama!

[Coup Cooper 610]

I just read this on the AFL website.

(What the coaches want in 2015)

Interesting little grab.

MELBOURNE

Paul Roos

To be the least-working, highest-paid coach in the game. I was already planning to make myself redundant by the end of 2016 when 'Goody' (Simon Goodwin) takes over, but why wait that long? I can do it now under the guise of "man-management", "empowerment" and "delegation". 'Goody' needs more hands-on experience, and 'Macca' (Brendan McCartney) is hell-bent on helping us get to the finals before the Bulldogs, so I might take my hands off the wheel completely and put on the cruise control.

I like the way McCartney is thinking!

[obbafan 128]

I am still astounded that Terlich and M Jones were given contract extensions.

If we are to advance these guys cannot be realistic choices for our best team or even a team with injuries. Great effort but turnover kings.

Then there are McKenzie and Riley who are hard at it but seem to lack the skills that a finals team demands (I hope I am wrong about Riley).

The excellent new picks need a buffer before they are fully deployed but Toumpas and Salem are the ones who will be stepping up this year with a skill level that the aforementioned can only dream of.

Everytime I post something like this I really hope the players do not visit this site,

[CBDees 3,165]

I am still astounded that Terlich and M Jones were given contract extensions.

If we are to advance these guys cannot be realistic choices for our best team or even a team with injuries. Great effort but turnover kings.

Then there are McKenzie and Riley who are hard at it but seem to lack the skills that a finals team demands (I hope I am wrong about Riley).

The excellent new picks need a buffer before they are fully deployed but Toumpas and Salem are the ones who will be stepping up this year with a skill level that the aforementioned can only dream of.

Everytime I post something like this I really hope the players do not visit this site,

Why are you astounded that the two players who were third and fourth (3rd & 4th) in the Bluey were given contract extensions? Although their skill levels may have been below some others, you could never accuse them of not having a dip!

[obbafan 128]

I agree and contend that that is the very definition of our problem. I applaud their endevour and value their contribution but feel that if that level of skill, regardless of effort, is getting you a contract extension you are playing in a mediocre team.

We must aspire to greater improvement and the harsh reality is that these players, regardless of their admirable commitment, would not be on a top eight list.

As I have posted before I hope the players do not visit this site.

I very much appreciate the dedication that these players have committed to the MFC but if they are in our best 30 we cannot be looking at finals footy.

[CBDees 3,165]

They don't have to be in our top 30 to be on our list, merely in our top 44! Bear in mind that they were 3rd & 4th in the B&F post 2013 season and we haven't recruited 27 players that would see them exit our top 30!

[obbafan 128]

An entirely logical argument but my point would be that they offer no possibility for advancement, that young talent should be given some exposure at this stage of the club's development.

The degree of list turnover provides an opportunity to expose raw talent to (hopefully) elite coaching.

However much I admire the effort of these players their departure will mark the step forward that the MFC has to take.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,208]

Remembering we now have an 18 team competition. For a coupe of years the talent pool will thin out. Clubs look to mature players from the SANFL, WAFL ect. Some work out some don't. More than anything I hope last year marked the end of delisting 11 players every 12 months. As we try to put together our best 22 some players aren't guaranteed walk up starts anymore. We are starting to build some depth, finally.

Edited December 31, 2014 by Al's Demons

[djr 1,311]

An entirely logical argument but my point would be that they offer no possibility for advancement, that young talent should be given some exposure at this stage of the club's development.

The degree of list turnover provides an opportunity to expose raw talent to (hopefully) elite coaching.

However much I admire the effort of these players their departure will mark the step forward that the MFC has to take.

That's what Bailey thought when he dumped James McDonald and Brad Green.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

That's what Bailey thought when he dumped James McDonald and Brad Green.

Green retired after Neeld's first season. Bailey had nothing to do with his departure.

[djr 1,311]

Green retired after Neeld's first season. Bailey had nothing to do with his departure.

Why do you think Bailey had nothing to do with his departure? Where did you get that from? Apologies re Green but the point is still valid.

Edited December 31, 2014 by djr

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Why do you think Bailey had nothing to do with his departure? Where did you get that from?

I think that Bailey had nothing to do with his departure because he was not at the club when Green retired. In fact, when Bailey left the club Green was still captain.

[djr 1,311]

I think that Bailey had nothing to do with his departure because he was not at the club when Green retired. In fact, when Bailey left the club Green was still captain.

I thought you meant McDonald. My apologies.

[rpfc 28,046]

An entirely logical argument but my point would be that they offer no possibility for advancement, that young talent should be given some exposure at this stage of the club's development.

The degree of list turnover provides an opportunity to expose raw talent to (hopefully) elite coaching.

However much I admire the effort of these players their departure will mark the step forward that the MFC has to take.

Exposing too many kids, too soon - leads to the malaise we entered in 2008 and have yet to come out of.

Development is not about 'AFL games played.'

I know this from bitter experience.

[old dee 23,486]

They don't have to be in our top 30 to be on our list, merely in our top 44! Bear in mind that they were 3rd & 4th in the B&F post 2013 season and we haven't recruited 27 players that would see them exit our top 30!

Not sure that says much about their ability CBDees. We were not close to AFL standard in 2013.

I hope they struggle to get games in 2015 because IMO they are good VFL standard players.

[demon3165 2,569]

The thing that amuses me is that some posters think that some players will not improve or develop this year, that may have been right in the past but I don't think that will be the same from now on so lets wait and see before people start to mark their cards before the season begins, this year will be a very interesting year to say the least.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,208]

The thing that amuses me is that some posters think that some players will not improve or develop this year, that may have been right in the past but I don't think that will be the same from now on so lets wait and see before people start to mark their cards before the season begins, this year will be a very interesting year to say the least.

I think the acquisition of McCartney is a godsend and that our younger players are in good hands with the current coaching set up from Roos all the way down to Byrnes. For me it's the players that have been on the list for a minimum of at least at least four or five seasons and have been treading water. I hope anyone that runs out for us does well but I think in some cases we've seen their best and they will be slowly filtered out.

[rpfc 28,046]

The thing that amuses me is that some posters think that some players will not improve or develop this year, that may have been right in the past but I don't think that will be the same from now on so lets wait and see before people start to mark their cards before the season begins, this year will be a very interesting year to say the least.

The players that traditionally improve quite a bit are those 21-24 who have enough experience, confidence in themselves, and their body is beginning to let them do what they want.

We don't have too many talents in that age range.

Tyson, Viney, McDonald, and Jetta are running near capacity.

McKenzie, Fitz, Riley, and Michie look to be limited footballers (but they may turn into handy players).

Frost, Newton, Howe and Watts are where we are looking for improvement but the last two have had such incremental improvement that fans can't see it - it's like continental drift...

I am looking forward to Garlett, Lumumba, Frost, and Hogan being thrown into that side, but the talents I am looking at for big improvements are not ready for that to be demanded of them - they are too young.

[rjay 24,577]

The players that traditionally improve quite a bit are those 21-24 who have enough experience, confidence in themselves, and their body is beginning to let them do what they want.

We don't have too many talents in that age range.

Tyson, Viney, McDonald, and Jetta are running near capacity.

McKenzie, Fitz, Riley, and Michie look to be limited footballers (but they may turn into handy players).

Frost, Newton, Howe and Watts are where we are looking for improvement but the last two have had such incremental improvement that fans can't see it - it's like continental drift...

I am looking forward to Garlett, Lumumba, Frost, and Hogan being thrown into that side, but the talents I am looking at for big improvements are not ready for that to be demanded of them - they are too young.

I think there is still a large amount of improvement to come through these 3 in the next few years 'rp' and they are a long way from capacity. I would expect to see all 3 in Mikes (or whoever does it now) top 50 and as 'P-man' will tell you, my expectations for Tyson in particular are high.

I'm looking for significant improvement from Viney this year as he settles into his 3rd season. Similar to what the Doggies are now getting from 'Libba'.

[demon3165 2,569]

The players that traditionally improve quite a bit are those 21-24 who have enough experience, confidence in themselves, and their body is beginning to let them do what they want.

We don't have too many talents in that age range.

Tyson, Viney, McDonald, and Jetta are running near capacity.

McKenzie, Fitz, Riley, and Michie look to be limited footballers (but they may turn into handy players).

Frost, Newton, Howe and Watts are where we are looking for improvement but the last two have had such incremental improvement that fans can't see it - it's like continental drift...

I am looking forward to Garlett, Lumumba, Frost, and Hogan being thrown into that side, but the talents I am looking at for big improvements are not ready for that to be demanded of them - they are too young.

Whilst I can agree with your points I believe now the club has been setup the same as the top 4 clubs are going about it players such as Terlich and his ilk will improve and that will pressure other players to keep on raising their standards, also remember Roos does like his work horses and what role they play, even if it means he only gets a game every now and then.